Packer and sampling assembly



.1. LYNx-:s

PACKER AND SAMPLING ASSEMBLY Jan, 7, 1941.

Filed sept. 5o, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jano 7, J. PACKER AND SAMPLING' ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. '1,[1941' UNITED STATES PATENT oF-Flcr.

2,227,729 Pacman AND sAMPLINc. ASSEMBLY John Lynes, Houston,` Tex. `Application September 30, 1939, SerialNo. 297,257

10 Claims.

The invention relates to a packer and sampling assembly for wells.

In the drilling of wells by the rotary method where a heavy abrasive slush is circulated down into the well bore to carry away the cuttings from the bit during the drilling operation, it is obvious that a tremendous static pressure will be exerted upon the face of the formation. This drilling slush sometimes has a specific gravity as great as 2 and in the majority of instances has a specific gravity approaching 1.5 or a weight from 10i/2 to 12 pounds per gallon.

When the drill bit penetrates a porous formation very often the static pressure due to -this column of heavy liquid in the well is greater than 'the pressure in the porous formation and thev drilling mud or slush is thereby forced into the formation and the driller may not known that he has penetrated a valuable or productive formation.

The practice has therefore developed of sealing off a portion of the well bore to exclude this static pressure and to thereby take a sample of the formation desired. A majority of such testing tools have been devised to seat in the upper end oi' a rat hole or smaller diameterhole extending belowvthe main well bore but in many vide a packer to be set by hydraulic pressure inv a deep well bore where the pressure in the packer must exceed the static pressure due to the weight of a column of liquid in the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of spaced packers which can be inflated and sealed against the well bore at spaced points so that a sample from the formation may be .obtained in the area between the packers.

Another object of the invention is to set a pair of spaced packers with liquid pressure in a welll bore and to thereafter operate a suction device to draw a sample of the formation into the tool from the area between the packers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packer and sampling assembly wherein liquid pressure is utilized to first set the packers to form a seal, second to draw in a sample of the formation fluid from between the Packers and thirdly to set up a circulation in the well bore above the tool so as to prevent the tool from becoming lodged in the well bore.

Another object of the'invention is to provide a hydraulic setting packer for well bores wherein the liquid being forced into the packers is discontinued into the packers at a predetermined pressure.

Another object of the invention is to set the packers of a formation testing tool in the well bore by the use of liquid under pressure and to ldivert the liquid from the packers to actuate a suction device when a predetermined pressure has been applied to the packers.

Other and further 'objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein: A

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the uppe end of the tool as it is lowered into the well bore to be set.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the lower end of the tool.

y Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections similar tov Figs. 1 and 2 but illustrating the device with the packers set, the sample taken and the circulation established above the tool.

Fig.'5 is a side elevation showing the well bore in section and illustrating the entire hookup. v

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the sleeve valve for controlling the circulation in the well bore. 1

Fig. .7 is a detail sectional view illustrating the valve which controls the flow of liquid into the suction device.l

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the check valve utilized to control the pressure applied to the packings.

Fig. 5 shows the well bore 2 Aas having been drilled into the earth formation and as having penetrated a porous formation 3 which is located between undesirable formations such as 4 and 5.

The present sampling and packer assembly 'is shown as having been lowered into the Well bore and the packers I and 8 inflated so as to form a seal with the formations 5 and 4 respectively. In this manner the productive formation 3 is isolated so that a sample may be taken in thru the l inlet 9 in the tool between the packers.

The tool is shown generally at I0 and is arranged to be operated or manipulated by an operating pipe or hose I I.

The structure is best seen in section in Figs. 1

and 2 where the parts are in the position in which 'they will be arranged when the tool is lowered into Ithe hole. 'I'he operating pipe i I is shown as connected to av nipple l2 which has the perorations arranged to allow a now of fluid from the inside oi the operating pipe H into the well bore it. Such flow is controlled however by a sleeve valve I6 which has the openings i1 therein and is slidably arranged within the nipple i2. A guide pin I8 is arranged to slip in the slot i9 so as to guide the sleeve and prevent rotation. The lower end of the sleeve h5 has the openings 20 therein so that a flow of fluid downwardly thru the operating pipe l I can discharge into the nipple l2 below the valve member i6. A spindle 2l on the lower end of the valve it projects thru a stuffing box 22 in the partition 23 in the lower end of the nipple l2. The movement of this spindle 2l upwardly raises thevalve it so as to move lthe ports il into alinement with the openn' into the well bore to wash away any settlings or cuttings which might tend to wedge or 1.odge the -tool in the well bore.

The nipple l2 forms a part of the body 25 of the tool, the housing 26 being connectedto the lower end of the nipple i2 to continue the housing. A spacer pipe 21 connects to thelower end of the housing 2t and is arranged to carry the upper packer l. An inlet pipe Q having perforations 33 therein is joined to the lower end of the spacer pipe 21 and carries the lower packer il that it has a resilient sleeve or packing 35 whichl 'lts about the upper and lower plates 3E and has an inwardly directed lip 31 at each end thereof which lips are arranged to be coniined by the upper and lower caps 3d. Each cap is in turn held in place by a coupling 3S so that the sleeve or packing 35 is rmly held in position.

A conduit @il extends from the lower end of the upper packing 1 to the upper end of the lower packing il and is arranged to conduct the infiating liquid from the upper packer to the lower packer. packer il is the same as described for the upper packer l.

In order to conduct the liquid pressure which is to be used in ini'lating the packers l and Si from the operating pipe l l to the packers a pipe d2 is connected on to the lower portion of the nipple I2 to receive the liquid which passes thru'the openings 20 in the base of the sleeve. This liquid will pass downwardly thru the pipe l2 thru a check valve 53 and into the upper packer ll. The check valve d3 is of a particular construction as best seen in Fig. 8 and includes the housing 45 which carries a partition 46 having a valve member 41 therein. This valve member is normally held open by a spring 48 which urges `the valve member to the right upon the stem 49. It 1s intended thatthe spring 48 will be of a predetermined strength so that the valve will close when more than a predetermined pressure is exerted thereon. Thus if it is intended that a pressure of 4,000 pounds 'per square inch is to be exerted in the packers 1 and 8 then this valve will be set to close at 4,000 pounds so as to exclude any pressure greater than that amount and in this manner the packers will be prevented from rupture or from an excessive internal pressure.

In operation the device will be assembled with I3 therein. These perforations arey The construction of the lower the parts as shown in Figs. l and 2 and will be v gradually lowered into the well bore, it being the intention to illl the tool and the operating pipe Il with the liquid such as water or oil which is to be used as the pressure liquid. In this manner the pressure on the inside of the tool will be equalized with the static pressure of the column of liquid in the well `bore so that the tool will not collapse under the tremendous pressure encountered. When the tool has arrived at the elevation where the packers are to be set as in Fig. suitable or additional pressure can be applied' to the fluid at the upper end of the operating pipe l l so as to insure that the packers will be properly inflated and when this pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure at which the valve t3 is`to close that valve will close and prevent an excessive pressure on the packer.

A valve 59 has been illustrated `in the pipe l2 above the valve d3 and leading into the housing 2li.y A detailed construction of this arrangement is best seen in Fig. 'l where the valve member 5t is slidable on a stem 52 and is normally urged to a closed position by a spring 53. This valve 5t will be so 'adjusted that it will remain closed at the liquid under pressure into the chamber 55 inside of the housing y The housing 26 carries a piston 60 which is connected to a rod @l extending thru the stufng box 62 in the lower end of the housing 26. This rod extends downwardly inside of the spacer pipe 2l and as seen in the upper portion of Fig. 2 carries a plunger 65 which forms a seal on the inside o' the spacer pipe. As the liquid under pressure enters the chamber 55 it will tend to force the piston t@ and the plunger 05 upwardly to create a suction in the area 06 in the lower end of the spacer pipe 2l. This suction will tend to raise a ball or check valve 58 so that the suction will beavailable in the inlet pipe S to draw fluid from the formation il into the sample receiving upon the formation. The check valve 68 closes to trap a sample of fluid in the spacer pipe 2l when the movement of the piston is discontinued.

A relief valve such as l0 can be applied to the housing 2S and also to the spacer pipe 21 so that as these pipes are lled with a liquid to prevent their collapse at the surface, the liquid may be discharged into the well bore as the piston and the plunger move upwardly.

It will be seen that the spindle 2l projects into the housing 26 above the piston 60 so that as the piston moves towards its uppermost position as seen in Fig. 3 the piston will contact the spindle 2|, moving it upwardly so as to cause the ports l1 to move into alinement with the openings I3.

When this function occurs the pressure liquid in the pipe Il will Lbe again diverted and ow into the well bore to preventthe tool from becoming lodged in position as has been previously described.

As the sleeve valve i6 opens there will be a reduction in the pressure in the operating pipe and accordingly in the pipe v42. This reduction in pressure allows the valve 50 to rst close, trap'- ping a body of the pressure liquid into the charnber 55 and retaining the piston in its uppermost position. As the pressure is further reduced and falls below the predetermined pressure at which the valve 63 has been set to close it permits this valve d3 to open. Inasmuch as the pressure in the operating pipe is less than the pressure in the packers the packers will become deflated and the tool is then ready to be removed from the well.

Broadly the invention contemplates a packer and sampling assembly which can be lowered to the well bore, the packers automatically inflated by hydraulic pressure, samples sucked into the tool by hydraulic pressure and a circulation maintained in the well bore after the sample has been taken and while the packer are being deiiated.

What is claimed is:

1. A packer and sampling assembly for wells including a body, an operating pipe connected thereto, a pair of spaced packings on said body, means to direct a liquid under pressure into said packings to innate them into sealing position in the well, an inlet into said body between said packings, additional means operable by the liquid when a predetermined pressure is applied in the liquid to said lpackings and said rst-mentioned means to divert theliquid into said body, and a suction device in said body operable by the liquid diverted into said body to draw a sample from the well thru said inlet.

2. A packer and sampling assembly for wells including a body, an operating pipe connected thereto, a pair of spaced packings on said body, means to direct a liquid under pressure into said packings to innate them into sealing position in the well, an inlet into said body between said packings, additional means operable by the liquid when a predetermined pressure Ais applied in the liquid to said packings and said first-mentioned means to divert the liquid into said body, a suction device in said4 body operable by the liquid diverted into said body to draw a sample from the well thru said inlet, and still additional means operable by said suction device to divert the liquid from the operating pipe outlets therefrom to circulate upwardly in the well.

3. A formation testing tool including a body a pair of spaced packers thereon, a sample receiving portion in said body, and means to apply hydraulic pressure to expand said packers to isolate a section` of the well bore between saidV packers and to exert a suction in said tool so that a sample of formation fluid may be received from such section in said sample receiving portion.

4. A formation testing tool including a body a pair of spaced packers thereon, a sample receiving portion in said body with inlet means between the packers, means to apply hydraulic pressure to expand said packers to isolate a section of the well bore so that a sample of formation fluid may be received in said sample receiving portion, and additional means in said sample receiving portion operable by the hydraulic pressure to draw in a sample from the formation.

5. A formation testing tool including a body, a pair of spaced packers thereon, a sample receiving portion in said body with inlet means between the packers, means to apply hydraulic pressure to expand said packers to isolate a.l section of the well bore so that a sample of formation fluid may be received in said sample receiving portion, and additional means operable when the sample is received to divert the hydraulic pressure to the well bore above the tool.

6. A formation testing tool including a body, a pair of spaced packers thereon, a sample receiving portion in said body with inlet means between the packers, means to apply hydraulic pressure to expand said packers to isolate a section of the well bore so that a sample of formation iluid may be received in said sample receiving portion, additional means in said sample receiving portion operable byv the hydraulic pressure to draw in a sample from the formation, and stili additional means to divert the hydraulic pressure outwardly of the body above the upper packer when said additional means has obtained a sample so that such pressure will circulate in the bore above the tool to remove settlings from above the tool.

7. A formation testing tool including a body, a pair oi spaced packers thereon, a sample receiving portion in said body with` inlet means between the packers, means to apply hydraulic pressure to expand said packers to isolate a section of the well bore so that a sample of formation duid may be received in said sample receiving portion, and additional means in said sampie receiving portion operable by the hydraulic pressure to draw in a sample from 'the formation,

including a piston and plunger structure.

A testing tool including a body, a packer thereon, a sample taking device therein, ports to be opened in said body to allow circulation of liquid into the` well bore, and an operating pipe connected to said tool to' apply liquid under pressure to first set said packer, next actuate said device to obtain a sample, and then discharge thru said ports.

9. A packer for wells including a body, a resilient packing sleeve supported on said body, .means to conduct a liquid under pressure to said packing from said body so as. to innate said packing, a valve in said means which is set to close upon application ci a predetermined pressure on the liquid so as to protect said packing against a greater pressure.

l0. A packer ier wells including a body, a

resilient packing sleeve supported on said body,

means to conduct a liquid underpressure to said sure on the liquid so as to protect said packing against a greater pressure, and additional means operable by the pressure after said valve closes to divert the liquid pressure into the well bore above the packer.

JOHN LYNES. 

